Washing machine for spinach, etc.



A ril 12, 1932. H. ROBINSON WASHING MACHINE FOR SPINACH, ETC

Filed Jan. 12, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet Iii-=5 Ill-=5 I I gwumto a, EWyJYOZZTZJOZZ,

April 12, 1932. H. ROBINSON WASHING MACHINE FOR SPINACH, ETC

Filed Jan. 12, 1931 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 12, 1932 HENRY.nosmson, or, new YORK, 1v. Y."

WASHING MACHINE roe SPINACH, 'rd.

Application filerl'January12, 1931. Serial No. 50 8,2 87.

My invention relates to a washing machine'for spinach, other vegetables,fruits and berries or the like of the general character disclosed,forfexample, in Letters Patent No. 1,752,202 issued to me March 25,1930.

The present improvement aims to render the machine more efficientespecially when washing spinach or other leafy vegetables in that itavoids metal to metal contact or abrasion of the agitating element andperforated disk over which it moves and at the same time provides forfilling the intervening space and the space between the washing chamberand end of the centripetally impulsive projection in such manner thatthe same will not be entered by wet leaves, which under existingconditions are caught and wedged under the agitator edge and between theagitator end and cylinder wall and torn in pieces or bruised, greatlyinterfering with operation of the machine and the washed product. 1

More specifically, it is aimed to provide a packing strip of rubber orequivalent material at the leading edge or edges of the agitator whichwill engage or wipe the surface of the disk and to provide an extensionon the centripetally impulsive projection toattain the end stated. 7

Various additional advantages and objects will become apparent from aconsideration of the description following taken in connection 7 withaccompanying drawings.

In said drawings Figure 1 is a view'partly in front eleva tion andpartly in central vertical section showing one form of the machine;

' Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the plane of theunction of the cylinder and its base; t

Figure 3 is a sectional detail taken on the line 33 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a sectional detail taken on the line H of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is an edge elevation of the agitator as used in the machine of,Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a plan view of a modified form of agitator, v

Figure 7 is a plan view of a second modified form of agitator; Y

the line 8-8 of Figure 7 r Figure 9 is a plan View of another modified fFigure 8- isa cross sectional View taken on form of agitator; c

Figure 10 i's'a plan view of a further form of agitator;

Figure 11 is an end view of Figure 10 and v Figure 12 is a modificationof the agitator of Figures 10 and 11. I

Referring specifically to. the drawings,

' of the agitator wherein like reference characters designate 7 like orsimilar parts, and first to Figures '1 and 2,'the machine consists of asuitably sup ported'base or bowl 10 which is surmounted by a cylinder orchamber member llihaving a top closure 12. The base 10 has a centralbearing 13 and a relatively fixed removable, perforated, saucer-shapeddisk 14, 'onwhich the spinach, other leafy vegetables,fruits, berries,tubers or other product or' material tobe washed, is supported. Anagitator 15 moves over the disk 14:, efficientlyagitating the materialwithin the chamber 11, and driving the same by a suitable mechanism generally designated D (such as disclosed in Letters Patent of the UnitedStates #1,799,- 136, issued to me on March 31-, 1931), which rotates ashaft 16 journaled in the bearing 13, and tothe upper end of which theagitator is detachably connected by the fitting of a socket 17 of theagitator over such shaft end, in combination with a binding screw 18 carried by the socket member. The washed spinach or material is discharged,preferably under the action of the agitator 15', through an opening 19in the cylinder ll, which opening is controlled by a suitable closure20, and which discharged material is directed down- W'ardly by a chuteor shovel constructi0n'21,

therefrom through a pipe 23.

The agitator 15 maybe of various forms and, for instance, that shown atFigure 13 in my aforesaid Patent 1,7 52,202, since it comprises a plateportion 30 and a centripetal j impulsive relatively attenuatedprojection 31,

into a receptacle arranged beneath the same. V

the former extending, for instance, approximately 90 about the center ofthe agitator. Plate 30, at one portion thereof, is higher than theremainder, which may be a ridge 32 radiating from the center of theagitator and such plate may gradually slope or curve downwardly from theridge 32 to the side edges of the plate. Through the rotation of theagitator, it imparts centrifugal action to the spinach or othermaterials to throw them against the inner surface of the cylinder. Thevegetables falling from such inner surface of the cylinder, are caughtor engaged by the centripetally impulsive projection 31 which isgenerally hooked-shaped and extends downwardly and forwardly in thedirection of rotation, such direction being indicated bythe arrow inFigure 2.

The highest point of projection 31 is higher than the ridge 32 and theupper edge of such projection extends downwardly from the highest pointtoward the center of the agitator whereby the projection is relativelythin or lower than its proximal and distal ends as at 33. Said portion33 is relatively narrow so as not to interfere with the turning oragitation of the material engaged thereby. As a result, when thevegetables are engaged by projection 31, they are given a positivemechanical centripetal impulse or motion which causes them to travelfrom said projection across port-ion into disk 23 from which they'arescooped up by the plate 30. As, a result of continuous rotation of theagitator for a predetermined length of time, the spinach or othermaterials within the cylinder are constantly moved downwardly bygravity, centrifugally, centripetally and upwardly, the leaves orelements of the mass constantly interplaying through mechanical force.

In actual practice, it is essential that the lower surface of theagitator be at least onesixteenth of an inch above and away from theplate or disk 14 in order to avoid metal to metal and abrasive contact.Since spinach has to be agitated and washed longer than other materialsin view of the fact that it is usually very dirty, the spinachfrequently clogs or is caught and wedges between the agitator and disk,impairing the operation of the machine and, in addition, bruising thespinach. To overcome this objection, the leading edges of the agitator15, that is at the plate 30 and arm 31, are equipped with a filler strip35 which is secured "to the agitator in any suitable manner as by meansof rivets 36. Such strip extends slightly forwardly beyond the adjacentedge of the agitator and is in wiping contact with the upper surface ofthe disk. The filler strip 35 may be made of any suitable material, forinstance, rubber, leather or other flexible material.

.As a result, the spinach cannot lodge or clog under the agitator andnone of the same will become bruised or out, resulting in thoroughlyefficient operation, from the standpoint of washing and the treatment ofthe material.

An extension or flange 31a is provided on arm 31 at the top and outerend which prevents spinach entering between the outer curved end surfaceof the arm 31 and the inner wall of the pot, further preventing cloggingand bruising of spinach and the equivalent.

' The same improvements are applicable to other typesof agitators,examples of which are illustrated in the drawings.

In vFigure 6, the agitator corresponds to that of the'first form excepta raised portion or ridge 32 is provided on plate 30, which extends fromone end thereof and curves inwardly on a linebetween the periphery andcenter of the disk instead of extending diametrically like rib 32. l

In Figures 7 and 8, the agitator differs from the previous forms in thata plate portionBOa is used instead of plate 30 although it functionssimilarly, since one edge 32a is higher than the other edge.

Figure 9 discloses a form of agitator which is adapted for rotationineither direction, since it employs a plurality or centripetally actingimpulse projections at and 61 branching from the same shank 62 which isformed integrally with a plate63 identical with that at 30.

The form of agitator shown in Figure 10 and 11 may also be used, thesame having an attaching socket at similar to that at 17, from whichreversely disposed angular blades 71 extend in opposite directions, suchblades having the filler stripsattached thereto. The blades 71 as shownin Figure -l1,'may be transversely straight or as shown at 72 in Figure12, may be transversely curved.

Various changes may be resorted to provided they fall within the spiritand scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. In a machine for washing vegetables such as spinach and thelike, aplate to holld the same for agitation and draining, an agitator movableover said plate, said agitator being of skeleton form so that it willnot completely cover said member, said agitator having a portion tocentripetally coact with-the vegetables and a portion to centrifugally00- act with the vegetables, the leading edges of each of said portionshaving non-metallic filler strips in wiping engagement with said plateto prevent the entrance of vegetables between the agitator and. plate.

2. A machine of the class described having a centripetally impulsiveagitating means having an arm-like projection on one side of its axis,said projection extending generally 1;.

radially and laterally, said projection being laterally dished andadjacentits outer end having a portion higher than the part thereofbetween the same and said axis, said part being relativelynarrow wherebyit does not affect the motion of material during agitation and saidprojectionhaving an extension substantially parallel to the plane ofrotation of the projection and terminating relatively close to the innerwall of the machine to prevent entrance of material between its curvedouter end and inner wall of the machine, substantially as. described.

3. In a machine for washing spinach and 1 the like, a drain plate tosupport the spinach,

an agitator member extending generally radially, said agitator memberhaving its leading I 5 edge portion relatively close to the plate andnormally immovable vertically relatively thereto, said agitator memberbeing movable over the plate from a substantially vertical axis, and aflexible strip on said agitator member extending from substantially saidaxis to its outer end normally urged by its inherent flexibility intowiping contact with said plate to prevent the entrance of spinachbetween means securing said strip to the agitator member, said stripextending from substantially said axis to the outer end of said agitatormember and being normally maintained through its inherent resiliency inwiping contact with said plate to prevent the entrance of spinachbetween the agitator member and plate during operation of the machine.

5. In a machine for washing spinach and the like, a cylinder, a drainplate therein to support the spinach,'an agitator member normally havingits sole motion on an axis substantially centrally of the plate, saidagitator member extending generally radially and substantially to theinner surface of the main wall of the cylinder, said agitator memberhaving an arcuate leading edge portion disposed relatively close to theplate, and having a portion lower than the outer end portion thereoflocated between such outer end portion and axis, and a flexible wiperelement secured to the agitator member adjacent said edge portion andnormally engaged with said p ate.

In testimony whereof I have aifixed my signature.

HENRY ROBINSON.

